Jungle Book

As the name suggests, this itinerary will take you deep into India’s wilderness for unforgettable encounters with the local wildlife – all under the watchful eye of our expert guides, naturally! But it also gives you the chance to visit some of India’s most memorable manmade monuments along the way. You’ll go on jeep rides in elephant and tiger sanctuaries, with many other animals, birds and more to admire. More urban stopovers include a visit to the temples of Khajuraho, Jaipur the ‘pink city’, Fatehpur Sikri, Delhi and of course the Taj Mahal.

Duration:14 days

Budget for 2:
USD 8300 – 15900,
with an additional USD 200
per head for local flights

Places visited

DelhiDays 1, 2 In modern India’s ancient capital, you’ll visit the parklands of the Raj Ghat to spot birdlife and visit Gandhi’s cremation site. Other attractions include the Chandni Chowk Bazaar, where craftsmen sell their wares and Emperor Humayun’s Tomb, set amidst formal Persian-style gardens.

JaipurDays 3 & 4Known as the ‘pink city’ ever since it was decked up in pink terracotta to welcome Prince Albert in 1876, Jaipur is a city with an aristocratic past. Take an elephant-back ride to the stalwart Amber Fort, stargaze at the Janthar Manthar observatory and observe birdlife in a local lake. Other activities include an elephant safari through the surrounding countryside and more

Keoloadeo National Park Day 5En route to Agra, you’ll visit this national park, home to rich diversity of bird life. Expanded in 2008, this former duck-shooting preserve comprises extensive wetlands and attracts vast numbers of migratory birds during the winter months to swell the large number of native species. In addition to many varieties of kingfishers, storks, waterhens, swamphens and raptors such as the imperial and steppe eagles the park also hosts wild boar, as well as spotted mongoose, sambar and nilgai.

Agra Days 6 Once the capital of the Mughal Empire, Agra contains a wealth of architecture, jewellery and handicrafts. You’ll visit the stunning Agra Fort and also see the main point of your Agra visit, the immortal Taj Mahal, illuminated by night and in the sunset hours, with the golden rays of the setting sun washing over marble domes and turrets.

KhajurahoDays 8Khajuraho, small town in Uttar Pradesh, contains a large group of medieval Hindu and Jain temples, famous for their sculptures. The 22 surviving temples are a treasure trove of Indian sculptural art with subjects including the many erotic depictions that have been variously interpreted as Tantric or spiritual in their deeper significance.

Bandhavgarh National ParkDays 8, 9 & 10A 310-kilometer drive through the jungles brings you to Bandhavgarh National Park, home to India’s densest tiger population. A former royal hunting preserve, Bandhavgarh also includes many other species such as the Chital (spotted deer) and sambar deer, wild boar, peafowl and langur monkeys. Jeep safaris, stints in Howdahs or tree-lookouts and off-trail elephant-back safaris will bring you up close with the wild denizens of Bandhavgarh, with good chances of a tiger sighting. You will also have a chance to spot some of the bird species that live here, including the blue-bearded bee-eater, white-bellied drongos, Tickell’s flycatcher, and assorted kingfishers.

Kanha National ParkDays 11, 12 & 13Another drive brings us to Kanha National Park, once the hunting preserve of the British Viceroy and the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s beloved classic, The Jungle Book. While much of the first day is spent on the road, you get two whole days to explore the park, with chances to spot the magnificent gaur, the strikingly beautiful bluebull, the barasingha or swamp deer and the ubiquitous langur monkeys. There’s also a sizeable tiger population and a wealth of birdlife including the pied Malabar hornbill, Indian roller, racket-tailed Drongo and more. The last day of the trip will be spent en route to Delhi, where you will have time for an afternoon to yourself before catching your homebound flights.